“I have to admit it would be for the best. As long as we’re somewhere on the Mediterranean, it’s not too far away should Papa take a turn for the worse.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll have hours every day to practice my Italian. What will you do?”
“Besides teach you?” A ghost of a smile hovered around his mouth. “Probably get back to my research.”
“What kind?”
“I’m a geophysicist.”
“You are?” Alex was stunned. She blinked. “So if you didn’t have to be king—”
“I would go on doing fieldwork around the globe looking for new diamond finds to shore up more resources for Castelmare.”
Her hand automatically crept to the pin attached to her cotton knit top. His gaze settled on it. “The Ligurian diamond is the reason I became interested in the subject. To understand how they’re formed and where to look for them captivated me from the outset.”
“I knew there was something more significant about this stone than the obvious.”
His eyes lifted to hers. “It has been my lucky piece in more ways than one.”
“How so?” she whispered. His nearness made her feel giddy.
“It brought me to New York at the precise moment Kathryn Carlisle’s daughter walked through the doors. Call it destiny … Kismet … our meeting lifted me out of the black void of my existence. For agreeing to marry me, you have my eternal devotion.”
Devotion, not love, so don’t kill me with your earthshaking brand of kindness, Lucca.
Her plea came too late as he cupped her face in his hands and lowered his mouth to hers. It wasn’t like yesterday after his escape from harm when he’d taken out his desires on her because he was missing his beloved. This time he kissed her as if she were his most cherished possession.
But it couldn’t go on. She wouldn’t allow it, because Alex had very recently discovered she wasn’t a half-a-loaf girl.
Slowly he put her from him. It wasn’t a moment too soon, because in another second she would have given in to the needs engulfing her.
His gaze found hers. “We’ll finish your Italian lesson tomorrow. Right now the dressmaker is with Mama. They want to go over the design for your wedding gown. Afterward we’ll have dinner with the family and Regina will join us. Later my father’s personal assistant will walk us through the wedding day so we won’t be apprehensive.”
“What do you mean ‘we’?”
She heard him inhale deeply. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve never been married before, either. I could trip on the steps outside the cathedral.”
“Lucca—”
He kissed the corner of her mouth. Alex felt it long after they’d left the schoolroom.
CHAPTER NINE
FOR the next two weeks a routine was established. Mostly Alex saw Lucca when he came upstairs to help her with her Italian. Afterward they usually had dinner with his parents. When she wasn’t studying, she often swam with Regina in the indoor pool and worked out in the palace gym.
Three days before the wedding, Professor Emilio made his appearance in the schoolroom. She put on a happy face, but inside she was wretchedly disappointed that her formal lessons with Lucca had come to an end.
The professor was a fine teacher and complimented her on her progress so far. She had no complaints. It was just that those two hours alone with Lucca had become the focal point of her daily existence.
Now that he was sequestered in his office dealing with government business and finishing his coronation speech, she hardly saw him. If this was setting a precedent for the future, then she needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and get on with plans that didn’t include Lucca.
After breakfast she phoned Regina and asked if she’d go to the university with her. It was time for her to look into taking the exam that would allow her to go to medical school. She could study for it on her honeymoon. Regina fell in with her plans at once. They decided to make a full day of it, with lunch and shopping thrown in.
At five that afternoon Alex heard a man call to her. She and Regina were about to leave the university’s student test center. She turned to her left.
“Tomaso! Come va?”
He seemed to have materialized out of nowhere. His dark blue eyes were alive with obvious pleasure. “In questo momento sono di ottimo umore. E tu?”
That was one of the greetings she’d practiced with Lucca. Tomaso had just said he was in a good mood now. It was exciting to be able to understand basic phrases.
“Molto bene.”
She felt Regina nudge her arm. “Buon pomeriggio, Professore Morelli.”
His gaze swerved to Regina. He looked taken back to see her standing there. Remembering his manners, he gave a slight bow. “Principessa. I’m finished for the day. May I take you ladies across the piazza for some gelato?”
“We’d enjoy that,” Regina spoke up before Alex had the chance to turn him down. At first she didn’t understand Lucca’s sister until it dawned on her Regina might be attracted to the Italian professor. He was attractive, and intelligent.
The crowded street made their progress slow but they finally arrived at one of the little sidewalk cafés. Tomaso challenged Alex to order in Italian, then complimented her on not making one mistake. While she basked in his praise, the waiter brought them ice cream. Tomaso insisted on paying.
She’d almost finished hers when a black limo from the palace pulled up in front of the café. Regina gave Alex the eye, signaling it was time to go.
Alex ate the last spoonful before thanking Tomaso.
“Next time it will be our treat,” Regina assured him.
“I’ll remember.” He walked them to the car. “A presto,” he said after they were settled.
When the door closed, Regina smiled at her. “I think you’re in trouble.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t arrange for this limo. It means one of your bodyguards phoned Lucca.”
“We didn’t do anything wrong.”
“That doesn’t matter. My brother won’t care that I was the one who accepted Professor Morelli’s invitation.”
“Lucca told me my bodyguards would never say anything unless I was in danger.”
Her brows lifted. “There’s danger, and then there’s danger. You know what I mean?”
“But that’s ridiculous.”
“Tomaso is clearly infatuated with you,” Regina declared.
There was little point in arguing with her, because Alex had to admit he’d acted a little too happy to see her.
“Why did you accept his invitation, Regina?”
“Because my brother dismissed him too fast for something that wasn’t his fault. I wanted to let him know it wasn’t anything personal.”
“I think that was wonderful of you.” She smiled. “If Lucca says anything, I’ll defend you to the death.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“Regina—”
She opened her smoke tinted window a crack. “Don’t look now, but there he is.”
“Who?”
“Lucca. I can tell from here he’s in battle mode.”
Alex’s husband-to-be made a frightening adversary when provoked, but this time she had right on her side and would stand up to him. However, when he opened the rear door, her heartbeat tripled at the breathtaking sight of him, knocking her off balance. He was dressed in cream trousers and a black silk shirt, exuding a male potency to die for. Before she could recover, he leaned inside.
“Welcome home, amata,” he murmured against her lips. “Umm. You taste of strawberry gelato. That was very nice of Professor Morelli.” His gaze made an intimate appraisal, taking in her light blue two-piece suit, another outfit he’d asked her to try on at the shop.
“About him, Lucca, he—”
“We’ll talk about it later,” he broke in. “Your uncle Yuri arrived an hour ago and is eager to see you.”
The palace had been filling up with Lucca’s closest relatives
, all of whom were gracious, but none of them were her family. Warmth filled her system to realize her own great-uncle had come. “I can’t wait to see him.”
Compassion shone from Lucca’s eyes as he helped her from the limo. “He brought more of your father’s family with him. Right now he’s with Papa. I’ll take you up there.”
Alex saw no sign of Regina, who’d disappeared without her realizing it. She must have taken their things with her, including a brochure and several handouts from the university.
They started up the stairs with his hand in its usual place at the back of her neck. While he asked her how soon she could take the test, she felt his fingers rub her skin with disturbing insistence.
“When e-ever I feel ready.” The answer came out jerkily. “They’ll let me do it in English, but after that—” It was impossible to concentrate with him touching her. Lucca had no idea at all how impossible it was to be around him anymore and pretend she wasn’t affected by the little things he did.
He was a sensual man. To her shock she’d discovered that she was a sensual creature, too. Every move he made, whether it was the way he sometimes made furrows in his hair without realizing it, or slipped off his jacket to get comfortable before they started a lesson. Whatever he did was guaranteed to draw her attention, filling her mind with forbidden thoughts that caused her to blush.
She wanted to run her hands through his hair. She dreamed of removing his jacket and tie and shirt so she could really touch him. She desired so many things she couldn’t have. When Lucca had once asked her to join him swimming, she’d purposely avoided it. He’d never pressed her, but it was a pleasure she knew he enjoyed.
If she gave in to the temptation, he would know she wasn’t in control. Then it would all come out that she was a fraud, that she’d clearly and simply fallen in love with him in Mr. Defore’s office and would have followed him to the ends of the earth if he’d asked it of her.
“That’s quite a conversation you’re having with yourself,” he whispered against her cheek. They’d reached the entrance to his parents’ suite and she hadn’t even noticed.
“I just wanted you to know that it was by chance Regina and I met Professor Morelli.”
Maybe he didn’t realize it, but he’d backed her up against one of the doors with his arms loosely holding her. “I’m quite aware he did all the running. As I told you before, it’ll happen over and over again in your life because you’re a beautiful woman who’s totally unaware of her appeal. That’s what makes you a magnet for men who are free to look but know they can’t touch.”
Lucca might not want her, but she was about to become his legal consort and that made her his possession. She wore his diamond for everyone to see. How appropriate that he’d had it cut in the shape of a teardrop. A presentiment of things to come even at the young age of nineteen, because he knew he’d never find fulfillment in marriage? Certainly her heart was bleeding all over the place, too. A fine wedding couple they made.
Maybe now was the time to give him something she’d bought him today. He might not be her possession, but being his wife she would have certain claims on him. As king he would wear the monarch seal on his right hand. As husband, he could wear her gift on his left for everyone to see, but it wouldn’t prevent the woman he loved from touching him.
“Close your eyes for a minute, Lucca.”
His black brows furrowed. Whatever he’d expected her to say, that wasn’t it. “Why?”
“Because I have something for you. I hope you’re going to like it. I’d planned to put it on you before you left for your coronation, but I’ve changed my mind.”
Surprise registered in his eyes before he closed them. It meant her bodyguards hadn’t blabbed all to him. She would remember to thank them later.
Compared to the worth of the Ligurian diamond, the $150 she’d paid for it was negligible. She’d put the tiny box in her suit jacket pocket to wrap later.
“Remember the day you took me to Dirupo? There was a little plaque outside the church in memory of St. Anthony of Padua and his companion Lucca Belludi, a nobleman who’d traveled with him to that spot. I did a little research and learned that after St. Anthony’s death, Lucca took his place, becoming the guardian and miracle worker.
“That’s how I think of you, taking your father’s place, becoming the guardian of the kingdom and working miracles for Castelmare.”
She took the gold ring from the box and slid it on his ring finger. Regina had helped her gauge the size. It looked like a perfect fit. The face of the ring was square shaped. An outline of the head of Lucca Belludi stood out in gold against a brilliant red background of pyrope. She loved the color. It reminded her of the red in the flag of the House of Savoy.
“You can open your eyes now.”
His heart nearly failed him when he looked down at the ring. While he’d been thinking up ways to pulverize Tomaso and incarcerate Manny, she’d been buying him a wedding ring unlike any other.
Lucca would never forget that day at Dirupo. There’d been so much he’d wanted to share with her he hadn’t known where to start first. In the process he hadn’t realized she’d paid that much attention. What she’d just told him astounded him.
This gift held a significance beyond price, but shame consumed him because he hadn’t told her about Sofia yet.
How ironic that throughout his adult life he’d grieved for the kind of love he would never know, yet now that Alexandra had colored his world, he would go on grieving because it seemed the only love she felt for him translated into lofty tributes.
She’d put him on a pedestal where he didn’t belong, not realizing he wanted to be in her bed, in her arms. He wanted to fill every centimeter of her heart, share every part of her soul.
So help him, if it took the rest of his life, he’d find a way. But he would have to be clever. The old tale about the sun and the wind came to mind:
The sun and the wind made a wager to see who could get the man below them to take off his coat. The wind boasted he would blow it off him, but it only resulted in the man wrapping it tighter around him. The sun smiled and kept shining until it grew so hot the man finally removed it.
That would be his technique. Just keep pouring on a little more heat until she opened up to him because she couldn’t help herself.
He reached for her hands, kissing the inside of her wrists. “You’ve paid me a supreme compliment. I’m not worthy of it, but I’ll make you a promise never to remove it. This ring will be a constant reminder of your faith in me and my great fortune in taking you for my bride. I’m the luckiest of men.”
“No, you’re not,” she whispered in a mournful tone. “It should be the woman you love giving you the wedding gift from her heart.”
Lucca couldn’t take much more. “I’d rather talk about your happiness.”
She avoided his eyes. “I’m very happy. To be able to go to medical school and help people one day is more than I could ask for.”
“But will it be enough?”
“Like you said, we don’t know what the future has in store.”
Pain shot through him as real as the bullet that could have killed him last year if it had hit the intended organ. Thanks to Carlo’s heroics, Lucca only had a scar near the top of his left shoulder to remind him of his mortality.
With reluctance, he let go of her. “Alexandra, something vital came up earlier I must take care of. Do you mind if I don’t go in with you?”
“Of course not.”
“Your uncle and I had a good chat earlier, but I’ll meet up with you both later.”
“Don’t worry. You’re about to take on a new mantle. I understand that.”
It wasn’t the answer he wanted, but when she never made a fuss over his comings and goings, he had no right to complain.
“Enjoy your evening with him.”
She nodded before going inside.
While she looked forward to a happy reunion with one of her only living relatives, Lucca headed
for Regina’s suite. He rapped on her door. They had their own signal. After doing it one more time to make certain she heard it, he walked in.
She was curled up in a chair in the sitting room, brushing her hair while she watched TV. “Ciao, caro. I’ve been expecting you.”
His expression grim, he turned it off. “We have to talk.”
“You stole my line.”
“This is serious, piccina.”
“I agree. You still haven’t told Alexandra the truth.” She put the brush down. “I happen to know you’re so in love with her your behavior is off the wall. What’s going on with you?”
“It’s about Sofia.” In the next breath he told her everything.
“All this time I thought Sofia was hurting for you,” Regina murmured. “Surely you can tell Alexandra the truth now.”
“I will, but——”
“Oh, Lucca,” she cried out, “you’re terrified she won’t forgive you! I never thought I’d live to see the day my brother was frightened of anything.”
Her comment brought him to a standstill.
“Do you honestly believe you could have talked a total stranger into marrying you unless she’d wanted it with the same passion?”
“She was desperate for financial help, Regina. When she wouldn’t let me give her the money, I had to come up with another plan.”
His sister eyed him shrewdly. “Knowing her tragic background, you do realize Alexandra would be the last woman on earth to repeat the mistakes of her mother and go near a king or be tempted by all the trappings unless she couldn’t help herself. By the way, I know all about her turning down the chance to make that film.”
Lucca’s head reared. “When did she tell you that?”
“Today during the flight from Nice.”
“What flight?” he thundered.
“The one she insisted we take to Padua, Italy, to find you that ring you’re wearing.”
“No one informed me!”
“They didn’t dare after I threatened them with being fired. Isn’t it interesting she couldn’t even wait until the ceremony to give it to you. But to get back to my other point, she said she couldn’t go to Hollywood because you might need her. In case you’re still blind, deaf and dumb, it’s code for she couldn’t bear to be away from you.”
Diamonds Are Forever: The Royal Marriage ArrangementThe Diamond BrideThe Diamond Dad Page 14
